Opinion by Shimon Peres, From The Jewish Daily Forward

At a special government meeting held in commemoration of Ben-Gurion, some $500 million was allocated to jumpstart projects in the Negev, part of a $4 billion plan to develop this vast landmass. The partnership of Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Agency for Israel, which have harnessed their energy and resources to support this plan, has been and remains vital. Developing the Negev is a matter of national importance, and bringing it to fruition is of the essence.